Allison tucked away the signed divorce agreement and let out a long breath.

Braydon skipped reading the details. That spared her a lot of fake tugging and excuses.

This worked out fine. Next month she could leave unburdened.

She stepped out of the office just in time to see Braydon scoop Kathleen up in his arms and dash into the elevator without a backward glance.

The fragile little pregnant woman must have "accidentally" bumped into something again and stirred up fetal distress.

Allison stared blankly at the spot where they vanished.

The elevator doors slid shut slow. Braydon never once looked up at her.

Her heart went hollow for a beat.

She once dreamed of having a child with him.

She even pictured how frantic he would get if something went wrong during her pregnancy.

Now she witnessed his panic firsthand. It just was not for her.

True love shifted in a flash.

The man who once saw only her faded into the river of time. Gone forever.

Whatever. She might as well pretend he died.

Allison sighed softly. She took another elevator down and drove to the hospital.

Years of intense ice training and shows left her with plenty of old injuries. She needed regular therapy.

Today marked her scheduled checkup.

After a full rehab session, she walked out of the therapy center sore all over.

She spotted Kathleen unexpectedly by the artificial lake in the hospital garden.

The other woman clearly waited for her. She curved her lips and hurried over. "Ms. Palmer, nice weather today. Care for a stroll?"

Allison wanted no tangle with her. She walked straight ahead.

Kathleen caught up though. She started bragging in that false-modest way. "I told Mr. Saunders it was just a little bump on the table corner. No big deal. He insisted on rushing me here for a check."

Allison halted sharp. She fixed Kathleen with a cold stare. "If you came to gloat, spare me. Your little games turn my stomach."

Kathleen's laugh grew bolder. "You know, us mistresses have it easy compared to you proper wives. Your husband knocks up another woman, and you sit there cool as ice. If it were me, I'd have passed out from rage."

Allison ignored her. She sidestepped to leave. Kathleen grabbed her wrist though. "Ms. Palmer, you don't seriously plan to just muddle along with Mr. Saunders and raise my kid for me?"

She dropped her voice low with a spiteful grin. "Let me tell you. Fat chance. He slept with me. He said I taste better than you. Replacing you is just a matter of time."

Allison burned with fury. She yanked her hand free. "I told you I don't want to hear it."

That slight tug sent Kathleen toppling straight back though.

She was pregnant after all. Allison reached out on instinct to steady her.

Kathleen twisted and pulled her arm instead. They both tumbled into the lake behind them. Water splashed everywhere.

The icy lake flooded her mouth and nose. Allison could not swim. Her body sank out of control.

Kathleen clung to her clothes like some water spirit. She whispered in her ear. "Guess who he saves first."

Allison struggled to lift her head. In her blurry sight, she made out Braydon rushing over. His face twisted in panic.

Kathleen clearly knew how to swim. She thrashed hard now though. Her cries rang out shrill and helpless. "Mr. Saunders! Save me! Save our baby!"

In the desperate struggle for life, Allison saw Braydon dive into the water.

He wrapped Kathleen in a tight hold though and swam hard back to the shore.

He chose Kathleen.

That realization cut deeper than the autumn lake water.

Her body sank slow. Darkness swallowed her vision bit by bit.

Allison refused to accept it. She did not want to die like this.

She had no way out though.

Just as she teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, a passing doctor stepped in and hauled her to the surface.

She coughed for ages. When she looked up, she saw Braydon kneeling by the bank. He patted Kathleen's back with worry.

Only after he confirmed Kathleen stayed safe did he lift his head. He spotted Allison soaked through.

Color drained from his face in a flash. He rushed over in a frenzy. "Allison! How did this happen to you? I did not know. I did not know it was you in the water. The water was too murky. I just saw someone thrashing. I..."

Allison raised her hand. She cut off his rambling excuses. "It does not matter."

Her voice rasped. "It really does not matter anymore."

Braydon froze in place. That utter calm unnerved him.

He would rather she cried. She raged. She hit him or yelled at him.

Not this. Not like she looked at a stranger.

Allison turned her gaze away coolly. She thanked the doctor who saved her in a soft voice.

Then she turned. She walked away step by step.

Each one crushed the old self who loved Braydon deep underfoot.

The man who swore he would always protect her, in her hour of greatest need, he pushed her into the abyss himself.

The heart could truly die this completely.

Allison returned to the marital home she shared with Braydon. She started packing her things.

She took only the clothes and jewelry she bought before marriage. As for the gifts he gave later, she didn't touch them.

Braydon rushed back. He caught sight right away of the staff loading a set of her favorite costumes onto the car with care.

His face went pale as a ghost. He grabbed Allison's wrist. His voice shook with fear. "Allison! What's the meaning of this?"

Allison glanced at him flatly. "The show starts next week. Some costumes need to go to the theater early."

That explanation did not fully ease Braydon.

He bolted into the house. He flung open the walk-in closet. He saw plenty of her usual clothes and bags still there. He let out a long breath of relief.

He tried to pull her into his arms. His voice carried the relief of a close call. "You scared me to death. I thought you meant to leave this home."

Allison sidestepped his touch. A mocking curve touched her lips. "Why would I leave?"

Braydon faltered. He stammered half a minute before he forced out. "Allison, Kathleen is just my subordinate. Back in the water, what she yelled about the child came from her muddled head after choking. Do not overthink it."

Allison nodded in vague agreement.

She stopped caring.

He signed the divorce papers already. The marriage existed in name only.

Who he cared for or fathered a child with stayed far from her world now.

"I will not stay home the next few days." Her tone stayed flat, like a simple notice. "I booked a room at the hotel near the theater, so I can focus on the show."

Braydon's eyes rimmed red. Pleading edged his voice. "Allison, you are still mad at me, right?"

"I am not mad." Her gaze stayed even. "I just need to concentrate."

He clutched her hand in haste. "Then I will stay with you at the hotel."

Before the words settled, his phone rang.

Allison's eyes flicked to the screen. She read the flashing name clear as day. Kathleen.

Braydon's little pregnant woman caused trouble again.

She claimed the drowning left her unwell.

Braydon had to lie once more. "Allison, wait for me at the hotel. A project hit a snag. Once I sort it, I'll come find you."

Yet he never showed up that night. Not even a call.

The lake water gave Allison a high fever.

Delirious from the burn, she grabbed her phone on instinct. She dialed Braydon without thinking.

That time she burned up. Her mind fogged over. When she picked up Braydon's call, she burst into tears.

Braydon stayed abroad on business then. He heard her sobs and ditched an important meeting right away. He flew back overnight to care for her.

They stayed together nearly seven years. When sick, she turned to Braydon. It rooted deep in her bones.

After long rings, a soft woman's voice answered. "Hey, Ms. Palmer. What do you need with Mr. Saunders?"

Allison snapped awake.

What did she do? They divorced already. Why did she still lean on him?

She moved to hang up. Kathleen giggled though. She said with loaded meaning. "Mr. Saunders wore himself out. He sleeps sound now. Whatever it is, can it wait till tomorrow?"

Allison drew a deep breath. Her voice turned icy. "Kathleen, let me remind you. Every penny Braydon spent on you, from the apartment you live in to the bag on your shoulder, counts as marital assets. I can reclaim it anytime I want. So in front of me, you better keep your head down."

Kathleen went speechless. She stammered awhile. She dared not say another word.

Allison ended the call sharp. She pulled up a delivery app and ordered fever meds. She asked the hotel for hot water too.

As she swallowed the pills and sipped the water, she made her mind.

From here on, she had to get used to life like this. She needed to learn to look after herself.

The Braydon who fretted over her slightest cold died in the past. He would never return.

Allison saw no sign of Braydon the next week.

She got one or two calls from him. He claimed a business trip.

She knew he tended to Kathleen. He could not spare time.

She bothered not to call him out. She prepared her solo ice show as usual. She acted like he never existed.

The performance day arrived in a blink.

Allison rose at dawn. She drove to the theater.

She held this show dear. It might stand as her last figure skating performance in this country for years.

She wanted to bid her domestic fans a proper goodbye.

She drove along. In her head, she ran through the evening's routine.

At an ordinary crossroad though, the light turned red. She stopped.

Bang! A brutal force slammed her from behind.

Her body lurched forward out of control. Her head smacked the steering wheel.

Still shaken, her mind blank, the second hit followed fast.

That car rammed her driver's door from the side rear.

This blow struck deadlier.

The airbag burst open in a flash. It pounded her face and chest hard.

The world spun wild. Harsh metal twists and glass shatters pierced her ears.

Blood trickled from her temple. It blurred her sight.

Through the spiderwebbed windshield, the sky and street she saw drowned in glaring crimson.